Rahul Gandhi on leave, Congress sets in motion party rejig

Significantly, the party is yet to take a final call on who would replace Partap Singh Bajwa, the Punjab Congress chief. Congress veteran and former CM Amarinder Singh is pushing hard for the removal of Bajwa. Rahul initially was reluctant to give into Amarinder’s pressure. While Bajwa’s replacement seems to be a certainty, sources said there is no clarity on who would be his successor. They did not rule out the possibility of Amarinder himself or some one close to him taking over. The names of former Punjab minister Lal Singh is also doing the rounds.

Bharatsinh Solanki, who replaced Arjun Modhwadia as PCC chief in Gujarat on Sunday, is a former Union minister and son of former CM Madhavsinh Solanki. This is his second stint as PCC chief. Sources said Rahul had to push hard for changes in Gujarat and Maharashtra. According to sources, Rahul is expected to return this weekend.

The appointment of Ajay Maken, AICC general secretary and head of its communication department, was a foregone conclusion as the party wanted a generational shift in the national capital, sources said. Maken said he was happy to take over the reins of the party in Delhi since is a grassroots politician and his main aim would be to keep the AAP government on its toes. It is not clear who would succeed Maken as head of the communication department.

In Jammu and Kashmir, it gave the reins of the party to Ghulam Ahmed Mir, who was acquitted in a sex scandal. Mir replaces Saifuddin Soz who has been PCC chief since 2008.

The party elevated Uttam Kumar Reddy in Telangana, who was the working president, replacing Ponnala Lakshmiah. Mallu Bhati Virkamarka, an MLA, has been appointed the working president.

“You ask the same question again and again. You will get to know when he comes back,” Congress president Sonia Gandhi said when she was asked by reporters in Parliament about Rahul’s return. She did not bother to answer queries about speculation that Priyanka Gandhi may be appointed AICC general secretary.

NO LESSONS LEARNT: RANE

Former Maharashtra CM Narayan Rane on Monday expressed his reservation over the appointment of Ashok Chavan and Sanjay Nirupam, claiming that the party high command did not consult state leaders on the issue. “It seems Congress hasn’t learned from the drubbing in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls… Before making the announcement, the party should have thought who can handle the situation in the state Congress,” Rane said.    (PTI)